Mt. Diablo Unified School District - CARES After School Programs

Strengths

The Mt. Diablo CARES is a well established program with strong support from our community partners as well as from our school site and administration. It is a unique collaborative between the Mt Diablo School District, City of Concord Parks & Recreation and Bay Area Community Resources, who all serve overlapping populations. This support stems from a history of excellent programming, coordination, strong program leadership and shared responsibility of providing services and families in the community. We are a part of the state- wide initiative, Nutrition Education Learning Leadership Community (NELLC) identifying exemplary practices in nutrition in After School Programs. Financially we are supported by over eighteen funding sources including grants from both state and city initiatives.

Challenges

In order to maintain high quality services being offered to our students and families, additional funding sources are continually being pursued. The formation of a non-profit charitable foundation and other small fundraiser and mini-grants for site need. There is an ongoing need to maintain high quality training and mentorship for CARES staff to ensure qualified staff are serving our students. Expanded opportunities for culturally diverse and enriching opportunities prepare students with the life experiences.

Programs for Students and Families

After School Programming includes:

Homework Help, Academic Intervention Program, ASPIRE Supplemental Educational Services, Nutrition Education and Cooking, Dance, Arts and Crafts, Science, SPARK program, Gardening and Field Trips. A Middle School Sports program is offered at the four Middle Schools with the CARES After School Program.

Snack Programming includes:

Daily nutritional snack provided in partnership with Food Services Department and the USDA.

Links to the School Day

School day teachers instruct the Intervention portion of CARES.
Representative of CARES in Student Care Team (SCT) and attends faculty, Leadership, and grade level meetings.
Informal and formal means of communication in place to facilitate discussion between CARES staff and school day teachers and principal.
CARES staff complete and share Bi-monthly Student Progress reports with classroom teachers.

Description of Homework Assistance Programs:

Homework Help: 1 hour HW assistance and support.
Intervention Program: 1 hour of academic Intervention with a Credentialed teacher in either English Language Arts and Mathematics. Student to teacher ratio is 17-10:1. This program has eligibility requirements.
ASPIRE Supplemental Education Services Program: 1 hour of academic Intervention with a Credentialed teacher in either English Language Arts and Mathematic. Student to teacher ratio is 6:1. This program has eligibility requirements.
After School Academic Research Project: Forty students in grades second through fifth participate in a nationwide research study. Three schools participate in this study; Holbrook, Sun Terrace and Wren Avenue. They receive math and/or reading instruction four times a week for 45 minutes by a credentialed teacher. Student to teacher ratio is 10:1.
Computer Lab: All CARES sites have a computer lab for students to explore and gain practice in computer skills and education
My Skills Tutor is a new Mathematics program that all CARES After School Program students participate in weekly.
Science: Students participate in lecture, hypothesis, experiments and the District Science Fair.
Buddy Reading: Younger students buddy with older students to enjoy reading and literacy activities.
Academic Enrichment Activities: Disguised learning engaging students in academic games and activities; turbo twist, card games, journaling and interactive recreation.

Description of Enrichment Programs:

Enrichment opportunities: 1 Ѕ hours structured enrichment or recreation. Enrichment programming includes arts and crafts, athletics, leadership, and home economics programs. Programming focuses on the youth development model.
Nutrition Education: 7 hours a week of nutrition education and physical activity promotion. Students participate in nutrition lessons, fitness card, cooking classes, sports program, SPARK activities and field trips to the Gardens. Nutrition Curriculum includes, Reading Up the Food Guide Pyramid, Eat Fit, 5-A-Day, Dairy Council, Nutrition to Grow On and Harvest of the Month.
CARES Gardens: Our two After School Gardens host daily classes in the garden serving all 14 CARES After School programs integrating nutrition, youth development and community development. Now every CARES After School Program site is either in the process of setting up their garden or is continuing to work in their garden. Students participate weekly in the on site garden.
Intramural Sports Program: Many schools participate in organized sports. The Middle Schools in particular, all participate in weekly games which culminate at the end of the ten weeks with a tournament event where teams play at a Jamboree. Sports are changed every ten weeks and include, flag football, volleyball, basketball, soccer and softball.
Volunteers: Volunteers from local High Schools and Colleges provide support for program activities, reduction of ratio and prepare materials.
Enrichment Residencies and Assemblies: Expert enrichment instructors present assemblies and multiple week residency classes to broaden and expose students understanding of a particular skill or art; African Dance and Drumming, Ballet, Taiko drumming, Wildlife Animals Assemblies, Storytelling, Graphic Arts, Drama/Willows Theatre, Kid Tribe, Musical performances, Magic Shows, Aztec Dancing, Hula Academy and Mad Science.
Field Trips: Students have opportunities to go on field trips to local visual and performing arts, science and sporting events.

Description of Peer Resources and Youth Development Programs:

Middle School Volunteers: Middle School students are qualified 6th, 7th and 8th grade students who enjoy helping their peers learn. After homework and tutoring, volunteers participate in ongoing enrichment activities.
Life Skill Program: Students learn Life Skills such as Respect, Responsibility, Cooperation, Problem Solving and learn how to integrate these skills into their lives.
Student Leadership Team: Students participating in CARES have an opportunity participate in a youth leadership class and group where they voice their ideas, concerns and plans for program enhancement and improvement as well as coordinate service projects
Youth Development & Leadership Corps: 10-15 youth workers between the ages of 16-21 receive additional training, career education and support while fulfilling their roles as a CARES program leader.
Garden Teen Corps: 20 Bay Point youth between the ages of 15-21 participate in a six-week leadership class and internship where they learn valuable skills in gardening, youth development and communication. Students receive a $500 stipend and work experience school credit.
Talent Show: Multiple CARES sites coordinate and host an annual Talent Show highlighting their performing skills in dance and vocals.
Cesar Chavez Service Learning Club: Riverview, Oak Grove and Glenbrook Middle Schools give students a chance to participate in the Cesar Chavez Club, which is a Community Service Learning Club that goes on throughout the year. Students learn the core values of what Cesar Chavez stood for and in turn learn, plan and make their own decisions on what service projects they want to do to help their communities.

Description of Adult Education and Family Services Programs:

Family Nights: Each CARES program hosts at least 2 Family Nights that integrate enrichment, nutrition and academics resources and services for families.
Garden Events: Each CARES Garden hosts at least 2 events that invite families and the community to participate in enrichment, nutrition and academic activities and experiences at the gardens.
Adult Education Classes: Five of the 16 CARES sites host Adult Education classes offered for Parents on the school site during CARES hours. Children of parents are automatically enrolled in CARES.
Center for Human Development Support Classes: Workshops for students and families to learn about communication skills, community development, and alcohol and drugs supports families in learning skills to handle difficult choices.

Elementary Schools

Middle Schools

High Schools

Who We Serve

Number of Schools: 16
Number of Students Served: 2000
Male: 52%
Female: 48%
Free & Reduced Lunch: 66%
English Learner: 41%
Special Education: 20%

Demographics
Chinese: 1%
Latino: 53%
African American: 15%
Asian Pacific Islander: 7%
Other White: 20%
Other Non-White: 5%

How We Serve
Staff to student ratio: 1:20
Number of credentialed staff: 1-5
Number of volunteers: 6-15
Number of CARES staff: 0-6
Number of subcontractors: 2-8
Number of Community Partners: 23